I said this under someone else's article but I feel that it works here too. I have never read the Lord of The Rings and only saw glimpses of the movies when I was younger because my aunt would watch them. I didn't understand why at the time but I particularly felt bad for Gollum despite him being a monster but this could just be my more caring nature. I agree that Gollum is in the middle of good vs. evil but this is because I don't think there is a such thing as being all bad or all good. I also agree with Jade in determining that Gollum died happily and a part of me believes that Sméagol was probably tired of being trapped in that body anyhow. I'm also not sure if this is mentioned in. the books but I'm curious if the ring had any effects on Sméagol before he killed Déagol as his selfishness may make it easier for the ring to control him without him touching it.
This post and Gollum/Smeagol in general make me think of just obsession in general. Obsession drives its bearer to do very strange things, as it did with Gollum. I don't believe a lot of Gollum's actions were necessarily his decision but rather his obsession's decision. Like you said, he was driven more by his selfishness than anything. Overall, great post!
I brought up some ideas about Gollum a few class periods ago- and ya know I fully think Gollum got what he wanted. I think of the ring as an addiction for Gollum- he wanted that damn ring so bad, no matter in death he got what he wanted and a large part of me believed he died happily.
Dori, just reading this now in preparation for my series, which will feature Gollum and you've made some great points here that I'm sure will help me. I think you make a convincing case for Gollum being the best of the Ring bearers!
One thing that is incredibly interesting to me is the idea that pity was the first action employed by Bilbo when finding the Ring, but murder was the first action employed by our friend Sméagol here. If the Ring truly does have as much agency as it has been laid out to have, then it seems to take respective personalities into account also!
Dori, I really enjoyed this post! I think you make very astute observations about both Smeagol/Gollum and the nature of the Ring and those who possess it. I agree that selfishness plays a large part in the way ring-bearers interact with the Ring and the world around them once they have it in their possession. These aspects make me wonder about Bilbo and his relationship with it. I find it interesting that as hobbits, these creatures do not feel any temptation to use the Ring, but they are tempted by the ownership of it. Smeagol killed Deagol just to possess it. Bilbo presents his least appealing self when there is a chance/opportunity to come in contact with or repossess the Ring, even after he has already given it up to Frodo, as opposed to the general disregard for shiny, trinket-y things hobbits usually show. This makes me wonder big things about the Ring itself (I've only seen the movies and am doing a lot of speculation here), like would it rather not be used for the evil it allows? If a hobbit is the ideal bearer and the three most recent bearers have been hobbits and hobbits will eventually deliver it from its existence, does it want to stay out of the "wrong" hands, those hands being the ones that actually want to use it? Just thoughts about the Ring itself--great post!
I said this under someone else's article but I feel that it works here too. I have never read the Lord of The Rings and only saw glimpses of the movies when I was younger because my aunt would watch them. I didn't understand why at the time but I particularly felt bad for Gollum despite him being a monster but this could just be my more caring nature. I agree that Gollum is in the middle of good vs. evil but this is because I don't think there is a such thing as being all bad or all good. I also agree with Jade in determining that Gollum died happily and a part of me believes that Sméagol was probably tired of being trapped in that body anyhow. I'm also not sure if this is mentioned in. the books but I'm curious if the ring had any effects on Sméagol before he killed Déagol as his selfishness may make it easier for the ring to control him without him touching it.
This post and Gollum/Smeagol in general make me think of just obsession in general. Obsession drives its bearer to do very strange things, as it did with Gollum. I don't believe a lot of Gollum's actions were necessarily his decision but rather his obsession's decision. Like you said, he was driven more by his selfishness than anything. Overall, great post!
I brought up some ideas about Gollum a few class periods ago- and ya know I fully think Gollum got what he wanted. I think of the ring as an addiction for Gollum- he wanted that damn ring so bad, no matter in death he got what he wanted and a large part of me believed he died happily.
Dori, just reading this now in preparation for my series, which will feature Gollum and you've made some great points here that I'm sure will help me. I think you make a convincing case for Gollum being the best of the Ring bearers!
One thing that is incredibly interesting to me is the idea that pity was the first action employed by Bilbo when finding the Ring, but murder was the first action employed by our friend Sméagol here. If the Ring truly does have as much agency as it has been laid out to have, then it seems to take respective personalities into account also!
Dori, I really enjoyed this post! I think you make very astute observations about both Smeagol/Gollum and the nature of the Ring and those who possess it. I agree that selfishness plays a large part in the way ring-bearers interact with the Ring and the world around them once they have it in their possession. These aspects make me wonder about Bilbo and his relationship with it. I find it interesting that as hobbits, these creatures do not feel any temptation to use the Ring, but they are tempted by the ownership of it. Smeagol killed Deagol just to possess it. Bilbo presents his least appealing self when there is a chance/opportunity to come in contact with or repossess the Ring, even after he has already given it up to Frodo, as opposed to the general disregard for shiny, trinket-y things hobbits usually show. This makes me wonder big things about the Ring itself (I've only seen the movies and am doing a lot of speculation here), like would it rather not be used for the evil it allows? If a hobbit is the ideal bearer and the three most recent bearers have been hobbits and hobbits will eventually deliver it from its existence, does it want to stay out of the "wrong" hands, those hands being the ones that actually want to use it? Just thoughts about the Ring itself--great post!